Archive for August, 2018

Democracy is when a leader of a nation is elected by the people. Australia does not have an elected Prime Minister serving its full term since…John Howard (2007).

All the following PMs were “disposed of” by their own party peers. A bit like in a kingdom, when there is regicide. Well, at least for now we are more civilized about it.

From the latest news stream it seems that Dutton, Homeland security minister, is going to challenge PM Turnbull in the next two weeks and Rupert Murdoch, the kingmaker, arrived in Sydney the 10th August.

So PMcide is going to be committed soon.

Dutton, Minister for Home Affairs, is unfortunately famous for being racist and using wrong statistics to strike fear and push for a back to White Australia policy.

I am by no mean a libertarian – yes there is an issue with African gang – but they constitute only 27% of crimes – very far away from being a crime wave of African origin.

There is a violence issue, but it is more related to socio-economic issue (the majority of crimes are committed -50% of the State prison population comes from 6% of the state postcode (and 25% from 2% of postcode).

We have an amazing police force that catches most of the criminal and an appalling court system that releases most of them.

But if Dutton becomes Prime Minister we will have to stop teasing Trump as he is even worse.

Or maybe he is the Australian we need to have to wake up as citizens and really push forward some politicians that really care about Australians (wildfires, drought stricken farmers, mortgage stress etc) .

Yesterday was a telling day. The violence of the move (in relation to the crisis and data) has been stunning.

Telstra +6%, Iluka Resources close to -8%, Walmart +9% etc etc.

We are in a low volume period (between 15 August and 3 September, US Labor Day) and the machines are reigning supreme.

All commodities and related shares were under full pressure. Algos trading was around 85% of all trading

Why do I accuse the machines? Apart some data I am receiving – there are large discrepancy in the US/UK ADRs behaviors that are a tell tale – as the machines are working more on the US/UK markets.

BHP US Australia -2.55% BHP London -5.22% and BHP US -4.82% (the difference is just the Pound vs USD)

Even more telling and with a real source is TENCENT

Tencent USA -10.22%

Tencent HK -3%

The only difference is that, as the China (and HK) market are down almost 30% – the Bank of China last week increased the deposits for short position in China related positions to 20% – so any machine attack in China has become 20% more expensive.

The Reserve banks should foollow China and regulate more the algos – or they will become the culprits of the GFC 2.